Spotlight On Omegas!

I'm sure you've heard over, and over, and over again that omegas (3, 6 and 9) are great for your health and can help alleviate, cure, or ease any number of ailments. But did you know that they are also great for the health of your hair? Let's explore.

I'm about to get a little science-y for a second...just hang with me. Omega 3, 6 and 9 are all fatty acids -- two of which are considered essential to human body functioning (3 and 6). All three are molecular chains of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon.
The differences between the three and how they perform in our bodies are at the molecular level. All fats have COOH (Butyric acid) at the beginning of the chain (known as the alpha end). Omegas get their name because they are the carbons furthest (omega = end/last letter of Greek alphabet) away from the Butyric acid in the chain.

Increases hair elasticity (less breakage)

Nourishes hair follicles

Can help re-start hair growth

Increases hair strength and thickness

Prevent or reverse hair loss

Improve flaky/dry scalp

Improve scalp circulation

Get omega-3 in your diet with: seafood (salmon, sardines, halibut, tuna, herring, mackerel, cod), seeds & nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, flaxseeds, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds), and fruits & veggies (strawberries, cabbage, broccoli, turnip greens, spinach).

Omega-6
Omega-6 is another essential fatty acid that our bodies cannot produce. It supports brain development, the immune system, and helps regulate blood pressure. When it comes to hair, omega-6:

Controls water loss in hair

Stimulates hair growth

Controls/helps improve eczema and similar skin/scalp conditions

Controls water loss in hair

Makes hair softer and more pliable

It's not difficult to get omega-9 in your diet. Chances are, something you're eating is getting you enough already!

Getting omegas in your body is one thing, getting them on your hair is another. If you're in the market for a new oil, and you want some omega benefits, maybe this chart will help you. Or, if you already have a favorite oil, see how it stacks up!

Oil	Omega-3	Omega-6	Omega-9
Almond		(X)	X
Avocado		(X)	X
Coconut		(X)	X
Evening Primrose		X	(X)
Flax Seed	X	(X)	(X)
Grapeseed		X	(X)
Hemp Seed	(X)	X	(X)
Kukui Nut	(X)	X
Macadamia Nut		(X)	X
Neem		(X)	X
Olive		(X)	X
Palm Kernel			X
Safflower		X	(X)
Soybean	(X)	X	(X)
Sunflower		X	(X)

X = highest fatty acid content
(X) = contains this fatty acid, but less than 20%

Isn't it amazing what a little omega can do for your hair? When the fatty acids in oils come together, they help serve three wonderful purposes:

1. Cement: They shape the substance that seal scales of the hair cuticle, in the same way that cement keeps together the bricks in a wall. Because the scales are "cemented" together, they make for a smooth surface, which enables the hair to protect itself against external aggressions, and to reflect light (shiny hair).
2. Barrier: Also known as sealing. They prevent the water that was absorbed by the hair from evaporating.
3. Sponge: Fatty acids are also mild humectants. They are able to absorb small amounts of water from the air's humidity in order to help maintain hair hydration.

Virgin or Pure: Meaning that the oil was obtained by mechanical processes, without industrial refinement or chemical additives.

Cold Pressed: Meaning that the seeds, nuts, or kernels are pressed to release their oils without heat. Cold pressed oils best retain the nutrients, vitamins, and fatty acids that provide the benefits you seek. Heat diminishes their presence and effectiveness.

Organic: Which guarantees that there is has been no fertilizer, no herbicides or chemical pesticides in the environment where the product source is cultivated. Because those elements are soluble in greasy substances, they end up in the raw product (unrefined/cold pressed). Only industrial refinement can then eliminate the impurities...then the oil itself loses its effectiveness. Talk about a vicious cycle.

For a rundown on some of the best natural hair oils, click here.